Solar attachment for transits



Dec. 1 1925- J. M. GUNN SOLAR ATTACHMENE FOR TRANSITS Filed may 5. 1923 5 sheets-sheet i Deco 1 I J. M. GUNN SOLAR ATTACHMENT FOR TRANSITS Filed May 5. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J//z/ M Gam/ WITNESSES ATTORNEYS SOLAR ATTACHMENT FOR TRANSI'TS Filed Mayr' 1923 5 Sheets-sheet 5, y

1N VEN TOR ATTORNEYSv Dec. 1 1925.

J. M. GUNN SOLAR ATTACHMENT FOR TRANSITS Filed May 5. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 W/TNESSES NW mw! Km;

Dec. 1, 11925I 1,563,484

' J. M. GUNN SOLAR ATTACHMENT FOR TRANSITS Filed May 5. 192s 5 sheets-sheet s' Patented Dec. l, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN MALCOLM GUNN, OF LAGUNA, NEW' MEXICO.

SOLAR ATTACHMENT FOR TRANSITS.

Application led May 5,

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, Jol-1N MALCOLM GUNN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Laguna, in the county of Valencia and State of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Solar Attachments for Transits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in solar attachments for transits, and has for its object to provide an instrument of this character capable of carrying out all of the operations and observations 'which may be achieved by solar attachments now in use without necessitating the series of delicate adjustments required by such attachments and without being exposed to the liability of having the adjustments of its elements accidentally disturbed and which speedily and accurately accomplishes the desired observations and operations.

Another object is to provide an instrument of this character which is of simple and durable construction, and reliable, etticient and accurate in operation.

@ther objects and advantages of the invention reside in certain novel features of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, show ing the solar attachment assembled with a conventional transit;

Figure 2 is a group view in perspective showing certain parts of the solar attachment prior to assembly;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section;

Figure 4 is a -detail view of the solar tubes showing the same in longitudinal vertical section, parts being shown in elevation for the sake of illustration;

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure G is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the parts at the forward end of the solar tubes prior to assembly;

Figure 7 is a detail view in elevation of the image tube;

Figure 3 is a group view in perspective 1923. sei-iai No. sessel.

showing the latitude and declination disk and associated parts, and

Figure 9 is a similar view of the means for mounting the latitude and declination disk on the solar tubes.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10, designates generally a transit which may be of any conventional or known; type and which includes a telescope 11 supported in the usual manner and a vertical arc 12 for measuring or laying oif vertical angles.

As. shown in Figure 3 a stud 13 is mounted upon the telescope 11 and a sleeve or socket 14 is fitted on the stud 13 and constitutes therewith the axis Lof the solar attachment. A clamping screw 15 is carried by the sleeve 14 and is engageable with the stud 13 to releasably clamp the sleeve in any desired angular position on the stud. Spaced annular ribs 16 are formed on the sleeve 14 adjacent the lower end thereof and define an annular channel in which a clamping ring 17-operates- The clamping ring 17 is loosely iitted on the sleeve and in the channel and aV clamping shoe 13 of arcuate form is arranged in between the clamping ring 17 and the opposed portion of the channel, a clamping screw 19 being carriedby the clamping ring and being engaged with the clamping shoe for releasably clamping the ring 17 in desired position on the sleeve. In order to accurately determine the position of the clamping ring 17 with respect to the sleeve 13 graduations 20 are formed on the clamping ring and ooact with indicia or graduations 21 formed on one of the ribs 16 or other convenient part of the sleeve 13, this indicia cooperating to determine the angular relation of the clamping ring with respect to thesleeve or socket 14. A guide or setting arm 22 is hingedly connected, as at 23, to the clamping ring 17, and has integrally formed `with or suitably secured to its outer end a depending lug 24, the outer end of the arm being adapted to be received in a rack 25 mounted upon the telescope 11, the lug 24 being adapted to cooperate with a tangent screw attachment 26. Preferably the arrangement is such that when the setting or guide arm 22 is positioned in the rack 25, the solar attachment will be in colimation with the telescope of the transit.

The frame of the solar attachment is mounted on the sleeve or socket 14 and comprises a pair of plates 30 suitably secured to the sleeve 14. A solar tube assembly designated generally at 31, is supported on this frame as will presently be described. This solar tube assembly includes an outer cylindrical tube or casing 32, the lower end of which is provided with trunnions 33 mounted in bearings 3 0a provided therefor in the side plates 30. Clamping screws 33 may be provided it found desirable and it provided are threaded into sockets provided therefor in the trunnions 33 and have flanges 33b `engageable with the plates 30. Spaced bearings 34 are provided within the outer casing or tube 32 (see Figure 4) and these spaced bearings rotatably support an externally threaded sleeve 35 which extends through the casing 32. The ends ot the externally threaded sleeve 35 projectbeyond the casing 32 and one of the projecting ends of this sleeve 35 l.has fixed thereon a nut 36 and a collar 37 for preventing longitudinal movement ot the sleeve '35 in one direction. The nut 3G also serves as a carrier for apointer as will hereinat'ter be fully described and the collar is extended to such size as to provide a thumb screw or operating vmeans whereby the sleeve 35 may be'turned. lWithin the sleeve 35 an optical'tube or inner tube 38 is arranged, this tube 38 containing the optical system ot' the solar tube assembly including lens and reflector or prism at the right angle and small bulls eye and two concentric circles on glass screen to receive. the suns image at the top end or may embody any conventional or standard optical system adapted for .this use. rlhe optical tube 38 projects at its ends'beyond the sleeve 35 and at one end has fixed thereto-a flanged nut 39 which rotatably abuts the annular shoulder presented by the adjacent .tace of the collar 37. The opposite endof the image tube or opticaltube has a right angle extension 40 in which the prism of the optical system is arranged andthis right angled end carries a cap 41 which rotatably embraces the adjacent end of the casing 32 and which presents a shoulder or collar 42 against which the lower end ot' the sleeve 35 as well as the casing 32 rotatably abuts. This shoulder 42 together with the collar 37 and flanged nut serves to hold the casing 32, sleeve 35 and'image tube 38 against relative longitudinal or rectilinear movement although leaving them 'ree to partake of relative rot-ary movement. "A clamping screw 43 carried'by the cap 41 and engageable with the casing 32provides for the holding of the image tube 38 in adjusted angular position .with respectto the casing 32. It is to be understood that'the term solar tube assembly is employed to characterize broadly the structure made up of the tube 33 containing the optical systemyits casing 32,

the sleeve 35, its bearings 34, the nut 36, collar 37 and the cap 4l.

A nut or traveller 45 is threaded on the sleeve 35, the traveller operating in the space between the sleeve 35 and the inner Wall or periphery of the outer casing 32. Spaced rings 46 and 47 constituting a pair areslidably litted on the outer periphery ot the tube or casing 32 and are connected to the traveller 45 through keys designated at 48 and 49 respectively, the keys being suitably connected to the traveller and to their respective rings, screws 43a and 4t)a being shown as the connecting means tor the sake ot illustration although these parts may be welded, soldered, shrunk or otherwise connected. The keys operate in diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 50 cut in the casing 32 whereby the keys serve not only to connect the rings 46 and 47 with the traveller but also to constrain the traveller and the rings to rectilinear motion longitudinally ot the tube 32. rlhus when the thumb screw 37 is turned to rotate the externally threaded sleeve rectilinear motion will be imparted to the traveller 45 and the rings 4G and 47 connected therewith. vA ring 5l is fitted in between the rings 46 and 47 so as to be constrained to partake oit longitudinal movement ot' the'rings 46 and 47 while tree to rotate relative thereto. This ring 5l carries a pair of spiral driving lugs, designated at. 52 which operate in spiral grooves 53 formed in the outer periphery ot' the tube 32, these spiral grooves being cut into the metal of the tube ior a distance approximately two-thirds of the thickness thereof. Itis obvious that when the thumb screw 37 is turned to rotate the sleeve 35 and consequently to move the traveller and rings 46 and 47 longitudinally of the casing 32 that the 'ring'l will be caused to move longitudinally of 'and turned about the tube 32 due to the combined action of the rings 4G and 47 and to the cooperation oit the driving lugs 52 and spiral slots 53 of the casing 32. The degree ot turningmovement oi the ring 5l is dependent upon the pitch or curvature of-tlie slots A disk is integrally formed or rigidly connected to the ring 5l and partakes of the motion thereof. One face of the disk 54 is provided with graduations, designated at and representing the latitude and the opposite tace ot the disk is provided with graduations` designated at '56, and representing the declination. Ot course the graduations representing the latitude progress from Zero to 9i D and the graduations representingl the declination ot the sun progress from each side ot the zero mark to 231/2O accordingly as the sun is north or south. VA ilanged indexing device 57 is mounted on the ring 46 and coacts with the face ot' the disk which bears kthe graduations representing the latitude,

or suitably connected to the disk 60 tansit is iirst carefully clamped.

65 scope of the transit.

5 acts with the tace54 bearing the graduations 56 representing the declination, the indexing device 59 having a clamping screw 60'whereby it may be clamped in the desired position on the ring 47. The disk carries two independently operable clamping means 61 adapted to independently clamp the indexing devices 57 and 59 to the disk 54 when desired. The clamping devices 61 are ot identical construction and each includes a resilient clamping iinger 62 engageable with its disk 57 or 59 as the case may be, the clamping fingers being apertured and fitted on the opposite ends ot a screw 63 carried by a lug 64 integral with Nuts 65 coact with the opposite ends of the screw 68 and engage the clamping iingers to urge them into clamping engagement with their respective discs. The lug 64 is formed with guide wings 66 engageable with the edges ot the clamping finger 62 to prevent angular movement thereof.

The graduations 55 and 56 represent the latitude and the declination in degrees and 3@ in order to provide for the indicationl or representation of intermediate values ot u these quantities an index pointer 67 is adjustably fixed on the nut 36 of the sleeve 35 by means of a screw 68 and coacts with a disk 69 secured to the adjacent end of the casing 32 and upon which disk 69 are graduations representing minutes.

A pair of brace arms, designated at 70 are provided one end oit' each brace arm being pivotally connected, as at 71, to its sidel plate 39 and the opposite end ot the brace arm being` pivotally connected at 72 with ears or lugs 7 3 provided on the ring 47. The brace arms 70 are of identical construction and each comprises a pair of links 74 and 75, each link 74 having a curved slot 76 therein in which a pin 77 carried by the link 75 operates, the pin 77 having a head at one end and clamping nut threaded on its opposite end whereby it may be clamped all provided with clamping nuts or other clamping means so that the brace arms may be releasably held in adjusted position with respect to each other.

In setting up the solar attachment the The thumb screw 37 is then turned until the solar tube assembly comes into its seat on the frame, thereby bringing the solar tube assembly into parallel relation with the tele- The solar tube assembly is then adjusted about its vertical axis, bringing it into collimation with the telescope of the transit, this being accomplished by iirst attaining the proper adjustment between the clamping rings 17 and the sleeve 14, clamping the clamp ring in this adjustment and then associating the guide arm 22 connected with the clamp ring with the rack 25.

The indexing device 57 is then adjusted on the ring 46 until it corresponds with the zero of the graduations 55 representing the latitudes, the indexing device being clamped in this position on the ring 46 by the screw 58. The thumb screw 37 is then turned until the disk 54 is moved an angular distance corresponding to the latitude and then the index device is unclamped from the ring 4tand is clamped to the disk 54 by its clamping device 61. Following this the index device 59 is adjusted on the ring 47 until it is coincident with Zero of the graduations 56. the indexing device 59 being then clamped in this position by its clamp screw 60. The declination is then set off by turning the thumb screw 37 until the disk 54 has moved a distance corresponding to the declination, this distance ot' course being determined by observing the relation between the indexing device 59 and the graduations 56. After proper adjustment is had the indexing device 59 is unclamped from the ring 47 and is 'clamped to the disk 54 by its clamping device 61. The instrument is now ready for a determination ot' the meridian and when the solar tubes are turned on their polar axis toward the sun the suns image should be seen in the field of the optical system. The large telescope is now on the meridian because it is only in this position that the sun is disposed in the field.

If it is desired to run on a different course, clamp the solar attachment on its polar axis by means of the clamp screw 15, turn 0E the desired angle on the plates of the transit, loosen the clamp 15 on the solar attachmentI and bring the solar attachment back on the meridian and then set the 'clamp again. it it is desired to reverse the telescope, litt the setting arm 22 out of the rack 25 and bring the solar tube assembly into parallel with the telescope of the transit by manipulating the links of the brace arms and turn telescope. To recover latitude, declination and meridian, reverse the telescope to the opposite position, release the clamp. screws ot the hinged braces, raise the solar tube assembly n place, and then move the solar attachment around until the guide arm comes into the rack 25. The same principle may be applied on the zenith telescope.

I claim:

1. In a solar attachment for transits, a "ame, a solar tube assembly swingably supported on said trame, said solar-tube assembly including a tube containing an optical system adapted to construct and present to view an image oi the sun and bracerods connecting the solar tube assembly and the frame, said brace rods comprising links pivotally connected to each other.

2. In a solar attachment for transits, a frame, a solar tube assembly swingably mounted on said frame, a ring movable longitudinally of the solarvtube assembly, a brace rod pivotally connected to said ring and to the frame whereby the inclination of the solar tube assembly is varied by `longitudinal adjustment of said ring, said brace rod comprising links pivotally connected to each other, and meansvcontrolled by the ring for indicating the latitude and declination.

3. A solar attachment ,for transits comprising airame, a cylindrical casingswingably-supported on said trame and having a longitudinal slot and a spiral groove there in, an image tube arranged .vithinsaid Vcasingvand having an yoptical vsystem vlfor r ceiving the suns image, an externally threaded sleeve 4rotatably mounted within said casing and embracing the image tube, said sleeve being ,free to rotate but held'against longitudinal movement, a traveller havingthrcaded engagement with the sleeve and having i keys operating in a longitudinal slot ofthe casing to constrain the traveller to rectilinear motion, a pairotl spaced rings slidably litted on Athe casing and rigidly connected to Ivsaid keys whereby they are constrained to part take ot the mot-ion of the traveller, a ring fitted between the spaced ringsfso as lto Vbe constrained rto `partake of the `longitudinal movement thereof while free to rotate relative thereto, said latter ring having lspiral driving lugs operatively engaged in the spiral groove of the casing, 'a -disk.rigidly connected to the latter ring and havingvits opposite faces graduated to represent latitudeland declination and brace rods pivotally connected to one of the pairl of rings and to the frame of the solar attachment.

el. ln a solar attachment lfor transitsha solar tube assemblyv comprising a casing having a longitudinal slot and a spiral groove, an image tube arranged within saidcasing and having an optical system for receiving the suns image, an externally threaded sleeve rotatably mounted within said casing and embracing the imagetube, said sleeve being free to rotate but beingheld against longitudinal movement, a traveller shaving threaded engagement with the sleeve and having a key operatingin the longitudinal slot ofthe easing to constraintheftraveller to rectilinear motion, a ring rigidly connected to said key and itted on the casingwheret by it partakes of the longitudinal movement ot' the traveller, a second ringvitted on the casing and associated with the l)first men- -tionedring to be constrained to partake of the longitudinal movement vthereof While free to rotate relativelythereto, said vsecond ring having a' spiral lug fitted in the spiral slot of the casing land a graduated disk earried by said second ring.

5. In a solar attachment for Vtransits, a frame, a solar tube assembly swingably mounted on said frame, anelement mounted upon and constrained to yinlove back ,and forth along the solari-ubc assembly, bracing means pivotally connected 'to the element and to the `frame whereby ythe v inclination oit -the solar tube assembly is varied by longitudinal adjustmentvof said element, and means controlled by said element for -indi eating the latitude .and declination.

6. In a solar attachment for transits, a stud upstanding from the'transits, a sleeve rotatably fitted -on vvthe stud, a Aclamping screw carriediby the sleevcand engageable with the stud, said sleeve having spaced ianges defining an annular channel, a clampingringnloosely tit-ted in -said channel, means for clamping said ring in 4adjusted. position in thechannel, arm hingedly connected to said ring, a A rack carried by the transit and adapted to Acooperate with said arm, said arm having a lug, atangent screw carriedby the rack and cooperab'le lwith the lug of the arm, airain@ carried by the sleeve and comprising spaced tside plates, a solar tube assembly swingably supported on said trame, a VAring movable,longitudinally of the solar tube4assembly,hinged brace rods pivotallyy connected A to Asaid ringv and to ythe side plates ofthe frame `whereby the inclination of the solar tubeassernblytis varied by t-he longitudinal adjustment'of-said ring, and meansy controlled by saidring for indicating the latitude and declination.

7. In a solar yattachment for Atifansits, a stud upstanding from the transit, a sleeve rotatably fitted Yon .the stud, ksaid stud and sleeve comprising the polar ,axis ofthe transit, an arm conneetefdtto .the sleeve, a rack carrie/d bythe transit and cooperable with the arm, a frame carried by the sleeve, a solar tube assembly swingably mounted on the frame, a ring movable longitudinally ot the solar tube assembly, a hinged brace rod pivotally connected tothe ring andto the frame `whereby the inclination of the solar tube assembly is varied by longitudinal adjustment of said lring, and means controlled bythe ring tfor indicating the latitude and declination.

-8. In a vsolar attachment for transits, a frame, a solar tube assembly swingably mounted onvsaid frame, a ring movable longitudinally of the solar tube assembly and organizedtherewith,a brace rod pivotally connected to lvsaid ring and to the trame whereby as: the inclinationof the solar tube assembly varies thelongit-udinal adjustment of the ring `with respect `to said lassembly llt() lll) varies, and mea-ns controlled by the longitudinal adjustment of the ring for indicating latitude or declination.

9. In a solar attachment for transits, a solar tube assembly comprising a casing having a longitudinal slot and a spiral tube, an image tube arranged within said casing and having an optical system for receiving the suns image, an eXteriorly threaded sleeve mounted within said casing and embracing the image tube, said sleeve being free to rotate and being held against longitudinal movement, a traveller having threaded engagement with the sleeve and having a key operating in the longitudinal slot of the casing and constraining the traveller to rectilinear motion, a ring rigidly connected to said key and fitted on the casing, a second ring fitted on the casing and arranged with the first mentioned ring to be constrained to partake of the longitudinal movement thereof while free to rotate relative thereto, said second ring having a spiral driving lug itted in the spiral slot of the casing, a disk carried by said second ring and having graduations thereon representing degrees of latitude and declination, a disk carried by one end of the casing and having indicia thereon indicating minutes of latitude and declination, and a pointer carred by the end of the externally threaded sleeve and cooperable with said last mentioned disk.

10. In a solar attachment for transits, a frame, a solar tube assembly swingably mounted on said frame, an element mounted upon and constrained to move back and forth along the solai' tube assembly, bracing means pivotally connected to the element and to the frame whereby the inclination of the solar tube assembly is varied by longitudinal adjustment of said element, means controlled by said element for indicating the latitude and declination; and means for adjusting said element longitudinally.

ll. In a solar attachment for transits, a frame, a solar tube assembly swingably mounted on said frame, an element mounted upon and constrained to move back and forth along the solar tube assembly, bracing means pivotally connected to the element and to the frame whereby the inclination of the solar tube assembly is varied by longitudinal adjustment of said element, means controlled by said element for indicating the latitude and declination, said last mentioned means including a disk constrained to rotate around the solar tube assembly as it moves therealong, said disk being constrained to partake of the longitudinal adjustment of said element while free to rotate relative thereto.

l2. In a solar attachment for transits, a stud upstanding from the transits, a sleeve rotatably fitted on the stud, a clamping screw carried by the sleeve and engageable with the stud, said sleeve having spaced anges defining an annular channel, a clamp ing ring loosely fitted in said channel, means for clamping said ring in adjusted position in the channel, an arm hingedly connected to said ring, a rack carried by the transit and adapted to cooperate with said arm, said arm having a lug, a tangent screw carried by the rack and cooperable with the lug of the arm, a frame carried by the sleeve, and a solar tube assembly mounted on said frame.

18. In a solar attachment for transits, a solar tube assembly, a pair of spaced rings mounted on the solar tube assembly for longitudinal adjustment, said spaced rings being constrained to move together, a third ring arranged between the spaced rings and engaged by the spaced rings so as to be constrained to partake of the longitudinal adjustment of said spaced rings, said third ring being constrained to rotate relative to the solar tube assembly when moved longitudinally thereof, a disk carried by said third ring and having its faces graduated to represent latitude and declination, and indexing devices mounted on the spaced rings and cooperable with the graduations of the disk, and clamping devices for releasably and selectively securing the indexing devices to the spaced rings or to the disk.

JOHN MALCOLM GUN N 

